Southern Annular Mode
This is the name for the variation in the position of thwinds that circle the Antarctic. Right now, it's in a negative phase which will last for a couple of weeks, but geez, don't we get knocked about here in Southern Australia.
This is a really cool picture; the real time winds, pressure, temps etc from https://earth.nullschool.net/.
South pole is approximately in the middle. Keep in mind that low pressure systems turn in a clockwise direction in the southern hemisphere.Circling the Antarctic is the southern ocean - the only stretch of water in the world that completely circumnavigates the globe. It sets up some glorious storms - think Roaring 40s.
I'm in that red spot on the southern mainland - just north of Tasmania. For the past four days we have had constant 50 - 75 km winds. I am so sick of picking up garbage bins, garden stuff - mine and neighbours.
The Southern annular mode is the position of this band of low pressure systems; a positive mode is closer to the Antarctic, a negative mode is higher and hits southern Oz.
Here is the current synoptic chart associated with the above image. The front is right over me. Right fekking now.
I've learned a lot about our weather patterns by comparing the two images - Null School and the Synoptic chart; I can now recognise a trough, both warm and cold fronts and many other weather related events. The above images are a true snapshot, both captured a few minutes ago so you can see how the weather is affected.
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